Regensberg

Regensberg was founded in the thirteenth century by the barons of Regensberg on the end of the Lagern ridge, and it is a textbook small medieval planted town: a round keep, a single street of timbered houses widening into a square, and walls following the contour. The well in the square was sunk more than fifty metres through the ridge to reach water and is often described as the deepest in Switzerland. The keep can be climbed for a view over the Zurich Unterland to the Alps. Vines cover the southern slope - this is one of the wine villages of the canton, working Riesling-Sylvaner and Pinot noir - and the Lagern ridge walk starts at the gate.

What you actually see

• A round thirteenth-century keep - climbable, with a view to the Alps.
• A planted medieval town - one street widening to a square inside walls.
• A very deep well - sunk over fifty metres through the ridge.
• Vineyards on the slope - the canton's wine country below the walls.

When to go

April to October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

It is tiny - under an hour to walk. The keep and museum keep short seasonal hours. Parking at the top is very limited; the climb from Dielsdorf takes about forty minutes. Weekends bring Zurich day-trippers to a small square.

Nearby

Dielsdorf is below; the Lagern ridge path runs east toward Baden.